How to get a Show/Exhibition, or be included in one?

[DRabbit]

Of course I have no idea if my photography would be that interesting to galleries and the public, but I'd like to explore the world of shows and exhibitions a bit more and have no idea how to get started.

Can anyone share tips, links, information on how to "shop yourself" for inclusion in an exhibition or having/getting a show(case)?

Thanks...

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Amy,

Pick a likely venue.

Ask them.

It's that simple.

My first exhibition was at Plymouth Arts Centre. Another was at a high-class hamburger joint in Bristol (where someone did me the honour of stealing a couple of my pics, along with the takings, when they broke in one night).

Cheers,

R.

[sleepyhead]

Yeah, start modestly, like in the café in your neighborhood - but bear in mind that most venues expect the artist to have the pics matted and framed, so be prepared to spend some money on that with little likelihood of recouping it in print sales.

[Phantomas]

(where someone did me the honour of stealing a couple of my pics, along with the takings, when they broke in one night).


Heh, that IS an honor!

[swoop]

Art heist if I ever saw one.

[Damaso]

Surf the web. This is just one (http://www.collegeart.org/opportunities/type/3/)of MANY sites that lists call for artists. Many small galleries are often looking for new talent...

[Pickett Wilson]

As others have said, there are a lot of venues that would like to have some free wall art. Just ask! Just keep in mind that you will probably spend a lot more money printing, mounting and framing your photos than you will ever make in sales. No reason not to do it, though. I continue to do shows, even though it is an expensive hobby! ;)

[DRabbit]

Thanks all... I figure it'll cost some money to do the matting and printing, but I'd like to at least try. I used to know a local gallery owner but they recently closed shop and moved away, but I may try asking them if they know any other local gallery owners they could refer me to.

[KenR]

I saw that my local library had shows of various artists and walked in and asked them if they would be interested in a show of locally themed photos that I had taken over the years. I was asked to bring a selection of work to show to the librarian who arranges the programs. That was all there was to it.
One wall in the exhibit area is an odd ramp that gave me nightmares as to how I would arrange the photos, and then more nightmares as the weeks before the opening date approached with lots of framing yet to be done. But when it was up it was nice to see. The library even helped out with a little reception on the first weekend.
I sold quite a few pictures from the show!

[DRabbit]

No one mentioned it, but Amy your photos are very interesting, I am sure you will have no trouble finding a place to show them, as everyone mentioned, just start locally. Somewhere that is already showing some work, just keep your eyes open for a likely place.

Thanks so much! :)

I'll probably wait until after the holidays at this point (no need to incur the extra expense right now) and then start with some local galleries and the library.

Thanks everyone!

[Audii-Dudii]

My first exhibition was at Plymouth Arts Centre. Another was at a high-class hamburger joint in Bristol (where someone did me the honour of stealing a couple of my pics, along with the takings, when they broke in one night).

Hah! I had five images stolen from an exhibition I had at a local Starbucks but I suspect it was an inside job, as they disappeared the day the exhibition was ending and I was scheduled to retrieve them ... what a coincidence, eh?

I like to think they were stolen because the thief decided they couldn't live without them, but in reality, I'll bet the images ended up in a dumpster and they were actually after the frames...

[Roger Hicks]

[QUOTE=Audii-Dudii;1198719]Hah! I had five images stolen from an exhibition I had at a local Starbucks but I suspect it was an inside job, as they disappeared the day the exhibition was ending and I was scheduled to retrieve them ... what a coincidence, eh?

I like to think they were stolen because the thief decided they couldn't live without them, [B]but in reality, I'll bet the images ended up in a dumpster and they were actually after the frames...[]QUOTE]

Probably not, in this case: they were chipboard clip frames.

Similar, in fact, to the ones that Frances used today (Friday 27 November) to set up her exhibition for the weekend at Martaizé village hall in suport of the national téléthon (to raise money for good causes).

Cheer yourself up, too, with the thought that if they were only after the frames, they'd steal the lot, not just a few.

Cheers,

R.

[silverbullet]

This summer I was sitting in my favourit Café Noir in Noirmoutier en Ile, France with my MacBook. Uploading files from my camera and drinking Café au Lait the owner dropped in and came to my table. I asked him to stay twenty seconds for watching myf lickr pics.
He looked at it and after my question about an exhibition he agreed.
Now I have the work to print and frame for next spring.....:o.....

Cheers
Bernd

[januaryman]

Some good ideas here. I just started myself, and after 2 entries, was juried in each time. The Alexandria Art League was my first, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop was the second. I will start branching out in other areas suggested here, but the local Art Leagues are a good place to start. Thank you.